Page 109 of Paint Our Song

“No, that’s on me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well…” He started it, set Theo off by stupidly talking about Calvin’s tattoo. “You know. Theo wasn’t happy I was there.”

“Did he try to pick a fight with you?”

“No… no, he didn’t. I, uh. I kinda started it, but not on purpose.”

“What happened?”

Miles says, “Uhhhhh.”

Calvin groans again, and he sounds so miserable. “I’m sure it wasn’t your fault. I can’t fucking do this with him. This is so stupid.”

“It will work out,” he says, voice quiet. Miles’s grip tightens around his phone. “You and Theo have… Well, you were together for a long time. I get it. That’s why the drama’s still this intense. You’re both going to have to learn to work together if you actually want to stay a band.”

They have matching tattoos. They lived together. Calvin wrote dozens of songs for him, and Theo had sung each one of them. They were a power couple—each other’s muses—and came up with hits that are sung all over the world. If they were painters, they’d be creating masterpieces every day, and their gallery wouldn’t have a shortage of paintings—wouldn’t have to practically beg them for it.

And… Miles? What has he ever done for Calvin? Absolutely nothing. Calvin’s astounding—saving him again and again in so many different ways, and Miles has nothing to offer him.

He can’t say that and he won’t.

His voice a low grumble, Calvin says, “This was a horrible idea. We shouldn’t have tried to get back together again. I’m going to get through the live release tomorrow, then I’m telling them I’m out. For real this time.”

“What, you want to break it up again? You sure?”

“It’s not worth it. I don’t even know why Chase agreed to this. He’s ready to punch Theo at a moment’s notice. Gil’s frustrated, too.”

“If they didn’t want to be there, why’d they agree?”

“Because I asked them to,” Calvin says, and there’s regret in his voice. “I shouldn’t have. Theo is nuts.”

Miles takes a deep breath. He can’t believe he’s going to say this. “Theo didn’t lie, though. Everything he said was true.”

There’s silence again. Then, Calvin asks, “What?”

“Everything he said was true. You wrote him dozens of songs.”

“So? I don’t care about him anymore. Does it bother you?”

“It’s… no. No, of course not. It has nothing to do with me.” Except that yes, it does bother him. He can’t compete with that. Miles will never be the person to inspire entire albums from Calvin.

“Okay,” Calvin says. He sounds unconvinced. “You swear you’re going to listen to our new song?”

“Of course.” He’s always listened to their songs, clicking around and refreshing his phone until that button says it’s finally ready to play. Even if he’ll have to hear Theo, again, singing Calvin’s words—he’ll listen to it.

Maybe.

Calvin murmurs, “Thanks.”

“I need to go. It’s a long drive, and it’s pretty late.”

“… Okay. Take care,” Calvin says. There’s something in his tone that makes Miles’s chest ache. “Say hi to your mom and Gabby for me.”

“Of course.”

The line clicks and the call ends, and Miles knocks his hand against his forehead, cursing under his breath.